Agnieszka Homańska: disinformation is a greater threat to Poland than military escalation

In a conversation in Washington, Agnieszka Homańska argues that information threats and the rise of anti-Western sentiments may pose a greater danger to Poland today than possible military escalation.

It's all connected. I think that disinformation and generally such information threats related to this anti-Western sentiment are the biggest problem and the greatest threat. Greater than any possible military escalation, he says.

Russia spends billions of dollars on propaganda and disinformation

How does Russia effectively influence Western societies in this way? Why is he trying to quarrel and polarize us instead of convincing Poles to support Russia? Is the information threat to Poland today greater than the risk of military escalation?

We also talk about the future of NATO and the changing involvement of the United States in Europe, the information war around Ukraine, the role of artificial intelligence and social media, and why Russian operations so easily reach ordinary Internet users.

We are disproportionately behind when it comes to financial outlays - says Agnieszka Homańska about the fight against disinformation.

Russian propaganda in Poland does not have to convince Poles to sympathize with Russia. Homańska points to a much more subtle mechanism: fueling disputes, strengthening divisions and spreading anti-EU or anti-vaccination narratives.

All such anti-vaccine, anti-EU, polarizing activities, which do not entirely concern politics per se, are (...) effective Russian activities, he says.

Another very strong diagnosis is made. When asked about the greatest threats to Poland in the coming years, she replies: Disinformation and generally such information threats related to this anti-Western sentiment are the greatest problem and the greatest threat. Greater than any possible military escalation.

Our American correspondent also asks about the changes taking place in the world. One of the topics is the future of transatlantic relations. Agnieszka Homańska argues that Europe has been preparing for a new reality for several years and has been increasing defense spending. In her opinion, NATO 3.0, which the current US administration is talking about, does not have to mean the withdrawal of Americans from Europe.

NATO 3.0 does not mean that it is NATO without the United States. This is NATO with a different involvement of the United States, he says.

When asked about Ukraine and whether the information war could be as important for it as the situation on the front, she said: It is, I would say, as important as the situation on the front. It is known that this hot, kinetic war cannot be won with an information war.

The conversation also includes the topic of responsibility of politicians themselves. Can society be effectively taught to recognize manipulation if representatives of the political world themselves use AI to create false or artificially generated content?

With this mandate, you can really do much more than posting funny, self-promoting videos or materials on social media, says Homańska, appealing to politicians on both sides of the dispute.

According to Homańska, real experts must learn to talk about complex issues in a language that people can understand, because more and more often the recipient stops at one headline or a short sentence and does not go deeper.